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He-Man was always camp. The loincloth, the harness, the flexing, the pink tunic, Masters of the Universe was masculinity as WWE spectacle.. The 2026 film knew this, it just couldn't decide what to do about it. Host Matthew Fox welcomes Pete Wright of The Next Reel Film Podcast on TruStory FM to dig into why this movie feels like five films playing simultaneously, why the Barbie comparison is more complicated than it looks, and what a genuinely great He-Man movie would have required of its filmmakers.There's real craft on display; Idris Elba anchoring chaos, Jared Leto's Skeletor going full Shakespearean villain, moments of nostalgia that land exactly right. But the movie sets up a father-son arc about masculinity and emotional bravery, then resolves it with a half-hearted deathbed forgiveness scene that changes nothing. It gestures at He-Man's campy legacy and then gets embarrassed by it. It makes Adam an HR rep with empathy skills, then turns those skills into a punchline. The movie knew what it wanted to say. It just didn't have the nerve to say it.We also get into the full Mattel pipeline — Polly Pocket, Rock 'Em Sock 'Em Robots, Magic 8-Ball as a horror comedy — and the nostalgia properties we'd actually pay to see: Gummi Bears, Darkwing Duck, and what Scooby-Doo keeps getting right that everyone else gets wrong.Full Show Notes and Resources**************************************************************************This episode is a production of Superhero Ethics, an Ethical Panda podcast and part of the TruStory FM Entertainment Podcast Network. Check out our website to find out more about this show and our sister podcast Star Wars Generations.We want to hear from you! Keep up with our latest news and send us feedback, questions, or comments via social media or email.TikTok · Twitter/X · Instagram · Facebook · EmailJoin the conversation in the Star Wars Generations and Superhero Ethics channels on the TruStory FM Discord.Want even more content while supporting the podcast? Become a member! For $5 a month or $55 a year you get access to bonus episodes and bonus content at the end of most episodes — and you can even give membership as a gift. Sign up here.You can also support us through our sponsors:Purchase a lightsaber from Level Up Sabers, run by friend of the podcast Neighborhood Master Alan.Use Audible for audiobooks. Sign up for a one-year membership or gift one through this link.Purchase any media discussed this week through our sponsored links.
Nobody Gets Off This Staircase: Krissy, Nathan, and Pete Take On The UntouchablesWelcome to this episode of The Most Excellent 80s Movies. Hosts Krissy Lenz and Nathan Blackwell are joined by special guest Pete Wright—podcast impresario and pod boss at TruStory FM—to dig into Brian De Palma's The Untouchables (1987), where the real question isn't whether Al Capone goes down, but how far a straight-arrow fed is willing to bend to make it happen.The central tension here is a juicy one: Kevin Costner's deliberately bland Elliot Ness surrounded by Sean Connery's full-voltage Obi-Wan energy and Andy Garcia's silk-jacketed handsomeness. Is Costner's wooden earnestness a character choice or just… Costner being Costner? The gang has feelings. Meanwhile, Pete makes a compelling case that David Mamet is at his very best when someone else is in the director's chair—and that De Palma's camera (hello, split diopter) transforms stilted period dialogue into something genuinely cinematic.What keeps the conversation sparking is the sheer audacity of the filmmaking: an improvised staircase sequence that became the movie's most iconic scene, Armani-clad gangsters that make everyone want to buy overcoats for a city they don't live in, and a baby carriage that shows up twice in two consecutive episodes of the pod. The episode stays premise-level throughout, so you can jump in clean and still feel every gut punch.TruStory FM | Membership (early, ad-free access + bonus content): Join | Socials: Facebook | Instagram | Bluesky | Learn more about the hosts: Neighborhood Comedy Theatre | Squishy StudiosIf you could only pick one scene from this movie to show someone who'd never seen it, which one would you choose—and why? ---Learn more about supporting this podcast by becoming a member. It's just $5/month or $55/year. Visit our website to learn more.
---Join the Declutter Challenge! Registration is now open through May 15!https://takecontroladhd.com/declutter---You've heard it before, probably said it yourself: time blocking doesn't work for me. Every block that slips becomes one more piece of evidence that you've failed the system — or that the system has failed you. So this week, Nikki and Pete try something different. They change the word.Nikki walks through three terms that get thrown around in planning circles — intentional planning, time blocking, and the one she's been reaching for more and more lately: flexible scheduling. Pete pushes back (gently, mostly) on why we need a new word for something that was never supposed to be rigid in the first place. And together they unpack the real reason so many ADHDers bounce off scheduling: it's not the strategy, it's the story we tell ourselves when the strategy bends.Along the way: the dangerous allure of hyperscheduling and why it only really works if your livelihood is measured in billable minutes; why time blindness isn't a reason to skip time blocking (and why estimation was never the point); the spoon theory and scheduling around energy instead of just hours; and Pete's brand-new metaphor — age of time — for thinking about margin, buffer, and what it feels like to live three weeks ahead of yourself instead of one day behind.Plus, Nikki drops another download: Your ADHD Schedule Starter, a short, practical guide for building a flexible schedule step by step, with a reflection section built in so you can keep adjusting as you go. Link in the show notes.Links & NotesYour ADHD Schedule Starter (free download)Unapologetically ADHD by Pete Wright and Nikki Kinzer — the book behind the frameworkFour Thousand Weeks: Time Management for Mortals by Oliver BurkemanGPS Planning Membership — Nikki's coaching community for planning, capture, and workflowSupport the show on Patreon — early ad-free episodes, livestream recordings, members-only DiscordDig into the podcast Shownotes Database (00:00) - Welcome to Taking Control: The ADHD Podcast (01:29) - Patreon.com/TheADHDPodcast (02:42) - Talking Schedules ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★
Darth Vader shows up in Maul: Shadow Lord without saying a single word — and somehow that's the most terrifying thing he's done in years. Matthew Fox is joined by Pete Wright and AK Ahab to wrap up Season 1: the Vader reveal, Devan's accelerating fall, Spybot's acid-bath farewell, and the Crimson Dawn cliffhanger hiding a very familiar face from Solo: A Star Wars Story.The core debate here is one the show earns: is Maul an anti-hero, or is Maul: Shadow Lord just cosplaying as one? All three hosts land in the same place, Maul is a villain, full stop, who generates genuine sympathy without ever earning redemption, and the show is better for refusing to let him off the hook. They work through Vader's fighting style (blunt-force strength, no Anakin artistry), the AI voice question hanging over Season 2, Devan's Anakin-parallel point of no return, and whether Lawson's sacrificial-father arc earns its place or takes the easy road.AK Ahab raises the throughline from The Clone Wars to Rebels that reframes the whole season: this encounter is likely where Maul first starts to figure out who Vader actually is, and that context makes every frame of their confrontation land differently. **************************************************************************This episode is a production of Star Wars Generations, an Ethical Panda podcast and part of the TruStory FM Entertainment Podcast Network. Check out our website to find out more about this show and our sister podcast Superhero Ethics.We want to hear from you! Keep up with our latest news and send us feedback, questions, or comments via social media or email.TikTok · Twitter/X · Instagram · Facebook · EmailTo learn more about co-host Erin and her incredible cosplay: Instagram · TikTokJoin the conversation in the Star Wars Generations and Superhero Ethics channels on the TruStory FM Discord.Want even more content while supporting the podcast? Become a member! For $5 a month or $55 a year you get access to bonus episodes and bonus content at the end of most episodes — and you can even give membership as a gift. Sign up here.You can also support us through our sponsors:Purchase a lightsaber from Level Up Sabers, run by friend of the podcast Neighborhood Master Alan.Use Audible for audiobooks. Sign up for a one-year membership or gift one through this link.Purchase any media discussed this week through our sponsored links.
---Join the Declutter Challenge! Registration is now open through May 15!https://takecontroladhd.com/declutter---There's a moment every ADHDer knows: you open the task manager, see the sea of red, and close it again. This week, Nikki and Pete sit with that moment — and with what it's actually telling you.The instinct is to blame the tool. Something's wrong with the app, the planner, the notebook. Time for something new. But what if the tool is doing exactly what it's supposed to do, and the thing you're really avoiding is something else entirely?Nikki walks through the two non-negotiables of any planning toolkit, why hybrid systems quietly fall apart in the in-between stages, and the one thing she asks every new one-on-one client to do within a week. Pete confesses to running four systems at once, lays out his tool-finding intestines on the table (his words, not ours), and makes the case for why your app isn't just an app — it's a lifeline. Plus: FOBO, task rot, the moral weight of a few simple minutes, and why the best tools are the ones that ask you to pay for them.Stick around for Nikki's brand-new download, Your Planning Tool Finder — a short guide to the questions worth answering before you pick your next tool. Link below.Links & NotesYour Planning Tool Finder (free download)Unapologetically ADHD by Pete Wright and Nikki Kinzer — the book behind the frameworkGPS Planning Membership — Nikki's coaching community for planning, capture, and workflowSupport the show on Patreon — early ad-free episodes, livestream recordings, members-only Discord: (00:00) - Welcome to Taking Control: The ADHD Podcast (02:27) - Patreon.com/TheADHDPodcast (03:17) - Talking Tools ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★
This conversation first aired on Star Wars Generations and we're sharing it here because it raises exactly the kind of question this show was built for.Maul is the only one in the room telling the truth and nobody will believe him. At the halfway point of Maul: Shadow Lord, Matthew Fox is joined by returning guests Pete Wright and AK Ahab to dig into what kind of show this actually is and what to make of a character who has been a Sisyphean tragic figure across every corner of Star Wars canon.The three hosts debate whether Maul is genuinely manipulative or just agenda-driven and honest. AK's reading — that Maul is too deep in self-deception to deliberately deceive anyone else — reshapes the whole conversation. They also get into the show's tonal balancing act: the crime noir Lawson subplot, the casting of a major actress in what might be a very small role, and the very real risk that the show trades its freshest ideas for a predictable Order 66 beat and a Padawan-falls arc. The meditation sequence in Episode 6 alone sent AK back to rewatch The Phantom Menace fight, because Maul's fighting form here doesn't match his onscreen history, and that gap is either a brilliant character insight or an oncoming problem.There's genuine enthusiasm for Maul: Shadow Lord in this conversation, and genuine anxiety about where the back half is headed. Both feel earned.itsmeepete.comConnect with AK: Instagram · Twitter/X**************************************************************************This episode is a production of Superhero Ethics, an Ethical Panda podcast and part of the TruStory FM Entertainment Podcast Network. Check out our website to find out more about this show and our sister podcast Star Wars Generations.We want to hear from you! Keep up with our latest news and send us feedback, questions, or comments via social media or email.TikTok · Twitter/X · Instagram · Facebook · EmailJoin the conversation in the Star Wars Generations and Superhero Ethics channels on the TruStory FM Discord.Want even more content while supporting the podcast? Become a member! For $5 a month or $55 a year you get access to bonus episodes and bonus content at the end of most episodes — and you can even give membership as a gift. Sign up here.You can also support us through our sponsors:Purchase a lightsaber from Level Up Sabers, run by friend of the podcast Neighborhood Master Alan.Use Audible for audiobooks. Sign up for a one-year membership or gift one through this link.Purchase any media discussed this week through our sponsored links.
Maul is the only one in the room telling the truth and nobody will believe him. At the halfway point of Maul: Shadow Lord, Matthew Fox is joined by returning guests Pete Wright and AK Ahab to dig into what kind of show this actually is and what to make of a character who has been a Sisyphean tragic figure across every corner of Star Wars canon.The three hosts debate whether Maul is genuinely manipulative or just agenda-driven and honest. AK's reading, that Maul is too deep in self-deception to deliberately deceive anyone else, reshapes the whole conversation. They also get into the show's tonal balancing act: the crime noir Lawson subplot, the casting of a major actress in what might be a very small role, and the very real risk that the show trades its freshest ideas for a predictable Order 66 beat and a Padawan-falls arc. The meditation sequence in episode 6 alone sent AK back to rewatch The Phantom Menace fight, because Maul's fighting form here doesn't match his onscreen history, and that gap is either a brilliant character insight or an oncoming problem.There's genuine enthusiasm for Maul: Shadow Lord in this conversation, and genuine anxiety about where the back half is headed. Both feel earned. **************************************************************************This episode is a production of Star Wars Generations, an Ethical Panda podcast and part of the TruStory FM Entertainment Podcast Network. Check out our website to find out more about this show and our sister podcast Superhero Ethics.We want to hear from you! Keep up with our latest news and send us feedback, questions, or comments via social media or email.TikTok · Twitter/X · Instagram · Facebook · EmailTo learn more about co-host Erin and her incredible cosplay: Instagram · TikTokJoin the conversation in the Star Wars Generations and Superhero Ethics channels on the TruStory FM Discord.Want even more content while supporting the podcast? Become a member! For $5 a month or $55 a year you get access to bonus episodes and bonus content at the end of most episodes — and you can even give membership as a gift. Sign up here.You can also support us through our sponsors:Purchase a lightsaber from Level Up Sabers, run by friend of the podcast Neighborhood Master Alan.Use Audible for audiobooks. Sign up for a one-year membership or gift one through this link.Purchase any media discussed this week through our sponsored links.
This week kicks off a three-part series on planning, and it starts where every planning conversation should: with honesty about why plans fall apart in the first place. Pete opens with his own cascading construction disaster at home, where raccoon damage set off a chain reaction of disruptions that has bled directly into his work life. Nikki's diagnosis is both simple and profound: when you make a plan, you're trying to predict the future with the information you have right now. When that future doesn't cooperate, the real problem isn't the plan failing. It's that we treat plan failure like a personal failure.From there, Nikki walks through the full spectrum of executive function challenges that make ADHD planning uniquely hard: time blindness that operates at every scale from individual task to entire month, working memory that drops the ball the moment you turn around, prioritization paralysis where everything feels equally urgent, the cognitive inflexibility that turns one bad morning into a ruined day, emotional regulation struggles and the sharp edge of RSD when disappointing someone is unavoidable, and sustained attention that evaporates the moment your environment gets interesting. At the center of it all is what Pete calls “fantasy Pete,” the imaginary version of himself who wields time like a saber and never lets anyone down, and whom nobody would actually like at a party.The antidote isn't a better system. It's moving from shame to curiosity. Nikki's framework: instead of asking what's wrong with you, ask what your brain actually needs. Find the friction. Learn your own flavor of ADHD. Build in margin so that when things go sideways, you have something left in the tank for recovery. The episode closes on Pete's central paradox, the one he returns to with clients again and again: it's not your fault, but it is yours. You didn't design this brain. But you're the one who has to work with it, and building that muscle, one honest conversation at a time, is exactly what this trilogy is for.If this episode hit close to home, we made something to help it land a little deeper. Your Planning Reflection is a free companion guide—just four honest questions to help you connect what you heard to what's actually happening in your own life. No productivity exercise. No grade at the end. Just a quiet moment to start paying attention. Links & NotesLattice by Pete D. Wright — Pete's new science fiction novella, now available on AmazonUnapologetically ADHD by Pete Wright and Nikki Kinzer — the planning book behind this trilogyYour Planning Reflection worksheet — Nikki's four-question companion to this episode, available now!GPS Guided Planning Sessions — Nikki's membership planning programThe ADHD Podcast on Patreon — early access, Discord, and live stream recordingsThe Spanish Prisoner (1997, dir. David Mamet) — Pete's most underrated film, home of the worry quoteRicky Jay — magician, actor, and unwitting aphorist: “Worry is interest paid in advance on a debt that never comes due”Support the Show on PatreonDig into the podcast Shownotes Database (00:00) - Welcome to Taking Control: The ADHD Podcast (00:41) - Introducing Pete D. Wright... Struggling Author of Fiction (03:31) - Patreon.com/TheADHDPodcast (04:34) - Why do your plans fall apart? (09:37) - Were you taught how to plan? (31:17) - Today's Reflection Worksheet ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★
Dearly Beloved, We Are Gathered Here to Talk About Purple Rain Welcome to this episode of The Most Excellent 80s Movies Podcast. Hosts Krissy Lenz (comedian and director at Neighborhood Comedy Theatre) and Nathan Blackwell (independent filmmaker at Squishy Studios) are joined this week by not one but two returning special guests—podcaster and writer Kyle Olson and podcast producer and improv impresario Pete Wright—to dig into one of the most electric, beguiling, and undeniably Prince films ever committed to celluloid: Purple Rain (1984).Neither Krissy nor Nathan had ever seen the movie before this episode—a confession that earns them some gentle ribbing from the two superfans across the table. What unfolds is a warm, funny, and genuinely insightful conversation about Prince as performer, The Kid as character, and what it means to watch a film that is less a story and more a time capsule from another world.
"Nobody... nobody trusts anybody now, and we're all very tired.”Producer/writer Josh Hyams joins hosts Andy Nelson and Pete Wright to discuss The Thing, directed by John Carpenter. When it opened in June 1982, audiences weren't ready for it—it bombed against E.T. and was widely dismissed, even as its atmosphere of paranoia played out on screen. Decades later it's considered a landmark of practical effects filmmaking and one of the great ensemble horror films ever made. Hyams—whose BAFTA-nominated Mr. Burton is now in US release—has loved this film since seeing it at an outdoor cinema in Greece as a child. He brings a filmmaker's eye to Rob Bottin's creature work, Morricone's bare and atmospheric score, and a film that, as he puts it, "draws you in, it doesn't patronize you—it is a grown-up, cerebral, well-told horror film that takes its time." Forty years on, it's earned every word of that.
A heist on a crime-syndicate planet, a “Duel of the Fates” needle drop that hasn't been heard since The Phantom Menace, and a Sith lord who barely has to break a sweat... Maul is off to a hell of a start. Matthew and Alex welcome TruStory FM co-owner Pete Wright to break down the first two episodes of the new animated series, set in the lawless underworld of Janix at the dawn of the Empire.The conversation covers the Blade Runner-meets-cop-noir world-building, the “sandwich prequel” problem of writing a character whose beginning and end we already know, and the big question: can Maul sustain eight episodes as a title character? Matthew makes the case that Maul is a Cassandra figure — he sees Palpatine's plan clearly and completely, but his methods mean no one will listen to him. Meanwhile, Pete brings a sharp outside perspective on what the show owes to Andor's willingness to let crime politics breathe.There's also spirited debate over Devin Izara and her Jedi master, whether the show's hallway fight scene has earned its place in a now-crowded genre, and where Crimson Dawn fits into Maul's long game — because Palpatine, as it turns out, is playing Candyland, and the outcome was never really in doubt.Star Wars Generations**************************************************************************This episode is a production of Star Wars Generations, an Ethical Panda podcast and part of the TruStory FM Entertainment Podcast Network. Check out our website to find out more about this show and our sister podcast Superhero Ethics.We want to hear from you! Keep up with our latest news and send us feedback, questions, or comments via social media or email.TikTok · Twitter/X · Instagram · Facebook · EmailTo learn more about co-host Erin and her incredible cosplay: Instagram · TikTokJoin the conversation in the Star Wars Generations and Superhero Ethics channels on the TruStory FM Discord.Want even more content while supporting the podcast? Become a member! For $5 a month or $55 a year you get access to bonus episodes and bonus content at the end of most episodes — and you can even give membership as a gift. Sign up here.You can also support us through our sponsors:Purchase a lightsaber from Level Up Sabers, run by friend of the podcast Neighborhood Master Alan.Use Audible for audiobooks. Sign up for a one-year membership or gift one through this link.Purchase any media discussed this week through our sponsored links.
In the final part of the MSC Baltic III series, Major Pete Wright and Warrant Officer Greg Hudson describe the dramatic rescue itself.After launching from Gander and racing toward the vessel in distress, the CH-149 Cormorant crew arrives on scene and begins the complex task of hoisting sailors from the stricken cargo ship in harsh winter conditions off Newfoundland.Pete explains the challenges of positioning the helicopter over a moving ship in turbulent conditions, while Greg takes listeners inside the rescue itself, describing the demanding work of hoisting survivors from the vessel and coordinating closely with the flight crew above.
Superheroes can bench-press buildings, but they almost never have a healthy relationship with their parents. For this episode of Superhero Ethics Matthew is joined by Pete Wright and Mandy Kaplan to dig into why legacy pressure, attachment injury, and the need for a parent's approval are the real origin stories behind so many of our favorite heroes and villains.Pete breaks down the three narrative engines that power nearly every superhero parental arc, while Matthew and Mandy trace them through Batman's idealized dead father, Tony Stark's lifelong chase for Howard's love, Lex Luthor's impossible battle to escape a name nobody will let him shed, and the Rogue story as a parable about parents terrified of who their child is. The conversation also surfaces a pointed question about whose emotional journey superhero stories choose to follow — and why Leia's reckoning with Darth Vader has been so thoroughly sidelined compared to Luke's.Mandy brings a newcomer's eye that keeps the conversation honest, Pete brings decades of comics knowledge, and Matthew ties it all back to the real thing; we relate to Tony Stark not because we're billionaires, but because we've all had a fraught relationship with a parent. This one hits differently if you have.Previous Conversation Topics Mentioned in This EpisodeStar Wars GenerationsStar Wars: Bloodlines by Claudia GrayStar Wars original trilogy — Luke Skywalker and Darth Vader's father-son arcSuperhero EthicsMoon Knight (Disney+)Daredevil (Netflix)Wonder Man (Disney+) — Matthew's strong recommendationJessica JonesParenthood (1989 film)These are the voices you want in this conversation — pull up a chair and listen.About Pete WrightPete Wright is a veteran broadcaster and media consultant with a 30-year career spanning journalism, brand storytelling, and podcasting. He is a co-founder of TruStory FM, where he hosts and produces podcasts that blend education, entertainment, and human-centered communication.About Mandy KaplanMandy Kaplan is a multi-talented actress, voice-over artist, and writer whose voice can be heard in hundreds of commercials, video games, and audiobooks. She hosts Make Me a Nerd, where friends introduce her to their fandoms, and co-hosts Once and Future Parent, chronicling the adventure of raising — and being raised by — a high schooler.Connect with Mandy: Make Me a Nerd on TruStory FMLinksStar Wars GenerationsConnect with Matthew: matthew@theethicalpanda.com · TikTok · Facebook · Instagram · Twitter/XThe Next ReelMovies We Like**************************************************************************This episode is a production of Superhero Ethics, an Ethical Panda podcast and part of the TruStory FM Entertainment Podcast Network. Check out our website to find out more about this show and our sister podcast Star Wars Generations.We want to hear from you! Keep up with our latest news and send us feedback, questions, or comments via social media or email.TikTok · Twitter/X · Instagram · Facebook · EmailJoin the conversation in the Star Wars Generations and Superhero Ethics channels on the TruStory FM Discord.Want even more content while supporting the podcast? Become a member! For $5 a month or $55 a year you get access to bonus episodes and bonus content at the end of most episodes — and you can even give membership as a gift. Sign up here.You can also support us through our sponsors:Purchase a lightsaber from Level Up Sabers, run by friend of the podcast Neighborhood Master Alan.Use Audible for audiobooks. Sign up for a one-year membership or gift one through this link.Purchase any media discussed this week through our sponsored links.
In Part 2 of this three-part series on the MSC Baltic III rescue, we continue the conversation with Major Pete Wright and Warrant Officer Greg Hudson as they describe the moment the call came in and the race to launch from 103 Search and Rescue Squadron in Gander.They walk through the early stages of the mission - preparing the CH-149 Cormorant, coordinating the crew, and launching into challenging weather conditions off the coast of Newfoundland.This episode takes listeners inside the cockpit and cabin as the rescue mission begins to unfold.
Before the dramatic MSC Baltic III rescue, years of training and experience prepared the crew. In Part 1, Major Pete Wright and Warrant Officer Greg Hudson share their paths into the RCAF SAR community and the lessons that shaped them. Pete discusses his path to becoming a CH-149 Cormorant pilot, flying with 103 Search and Rescue Squadron in Gander, and lessons learned from an exchange tour with the U.S. Coast Guard. Greg shares how his deployment to Afghanistan and years of specialized training led him to the elite SAR Tech trade.
“If we want things to stay as they are, things will have to change.”Costume designer Jenny Beavan joins hosts Andy Nelson and Pete Wright to discuss The Leopard, directed by Luchino Visconti—the landmark 1963 epic that showed her what period design could be.A three-time Oscar winner whose career spans A Room with a View, Mad Max: Fury Road, and Cruella, Beavan traces The Leopard back to a Soho cinema in the late sixties and the influence of a mentor who kept returning to what Piero Tosi achieved there. "He was obsessive, Piero Tosi. I don't think he was happy because it was never perfect enough. But he was one of the most incredible costume designers ever." The conversation also moves through her recent Nicholas Hytner film The Choral and the challenge of building an authentic world on nearly nothing—which turns out to be its own kind of craft lesson.Watch the conversation on YouTubeWatch & Stream The Leopard — Apple TV · Amazon · Letterboxd · TrailerAbout Jenny Beavan IMDb · InstagramReferenced in This Episode Elgar's The Dream of Gerontius — 1968 recording, Adrian Boult, Coventry CathedralSource Material The Leopard by Giuseppe Tomasi di Lampedusa — AmazonIf You Enjoyed This Conversation The Next Reel — Mad Max series The Film Board — Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga Movies We Like — Costume Designer Deborah L. Scott on The Mission Movies We Like — Costume Designer Alana Morshead on Never Let Me Go Support The Next Reel Family of Film Shows:Become a member for just $5/month or $55/yearJoin our Discord community of movie loversThe Next Reel Family of Film Shows:Cinema Scope: Bridging Genres, Subgenres, and MovementsThe Film BoardMovies We LikeThe Next ReelSitting in the DarkConnect With Us:Main Site: WebMovie Platforms: Letterboxd | FlickchartSocial Media: Facebook | Instagram | Threads | Bluesky | YouTube | PinterestYour Hosts: Andy | PeteShop & Stream:Merch Store: Apparel, stickers, mugs & moreWatch Page: Buy/rent films we've discussedOriginals: Source material from our episodesSpecial offers: Audible
Ghostface is back. Sidney Prescott is back. Kevin Williamson — the writer who started it all in 1996 — is back, this time in the director's chair. And The Film Board is here to pick through the wreckage.Pete Wright convenes the panel — Tommy Metz III, Steve Sarmento, and Mandy Kaplan — for a full-spoiler autopsy of Scream 7, the franchise's seventh installment and its most complicated origin story yet. The film arrives trailing the collapse of a whole other movie: Melissa Barrera's firing, Jenna Ortega's departure, two directors exiting before a frame was shot, and Neve Campbell finally getting what she was owed to come back. What ended up on screen bears those scars — and the panel doesn't look away from them.There's plenty to argue about. Tommy arrives as the franchise's longest-tenured Film Board voice and delivers his most critical take yet — the kills are flat, the villain reveal is the weakest in franchise history, and the AI deepfake conceit is nostalgia for nostalgia's sake. Steve, against form, finds himself in the film's corner: the Sidney-Tatum mother-daughter dynamic gives him something real to hold onto, and he'll take that over clever-but-hollow any day. Mandy had a genuinely good time, found Anna Camp's casting as transparent as a freshly-cleaned window, and would very much like Tatum's next chapter to be a musical. Pete sits somewhere in the middle — glad to have Kevin Williamson back, troubled by what he had to work with, and still thinking about the better movie that never got made.They get into the production chaos, the Barrera-shaped hole in the script, the question of whether the AI angle says anything worth saying, the correct use of a panic room, the mystery of a certain line reading, and whether Scream 7 has dethroned Scream 3 at the bottom of the franchise pile.
This month on Sitting in the Dark, we go big: big monsters, big fear, and big systems that respond to catastrophe with the confidence of a guy who just Googled “what is monster” on his way into the meeting. Kynan, Chelsea Stardust, Tommy Metz III, and Pete Wright take on three modern giant-creature films—Bong Joon-ho's The Host (2006), André Øvredal's Troll Hunter (2010), and Takashi Yamazaki's Godzilla Minus One (in its Minus Color presentation)—and find a weirdly consistent thread across wildly different cultures: when the giant thing shows up, the institutions mostly don't.The Host kicks things off with tonal whiplash as a feature, not a bug. The film's mix of grief, comedy, and political bite becomes its own kind of monster, and the conversation circles what Bong is really lampooning, what still lands, and what hits differently on a rewatch. The creature design gets its due too—full daylight, hard to pin down, impossible to “know”—but what lingers is the movie's sense that people become collateral long before anything with teeth arrives.Troll Hunter shifts the vibe without letting you off the hook. The group gets into the found-footage push-pull—shaky cam, “why are you still filming,” all that—then pretty quickly agrees that Hans, the deadpan troll hunter, is the secret weapon. The film's charm is how seriously it takes the ridiculous premise: folklore becomes logistics, mythology becomes fieldwork, and the jokes don't erase the danger. It's one of those movies that makes you laugh… then reminds you you'd die immediately.Godzilla Minus One brings it home with a version of Godzilla that's less “spectacle” and more “reckoning.” The group talks about the postwar setting, the human story at the center, why the black-and-white presentation changes the feel of the effects, and how this movie earns its impact through quiet scenes as much as destruction.Across all three films, the episode keeps returning to the same uncomfortable idea: these are blue-collar fights. The people who do anything meaningful aren't the polished experts. They're ordinary, exhausted, under-resourced, and improvising. Which might be the scariest part.Next month, Chelsea flips the table for her birthday picks with an ultra low-budget lineup: The Battery (2012), Hellbender (2021), and Starry Eyes (2014).
In this episode, you'll learn what becomes possible when you expand into new ways of creating, serving, and seeing.Pete Wright is a former tennis player and teaching pro turned professional sports photographer, brand marketing manager, author, and creative entrepreneur grounded in faith. Pete reflects on his journey from competing on the court to capturing some of the biggest moments in sports, and how his focus evolved from personal achievement to mentorship and cultivating meaningful relationships.Pete is the author of several books including his latest: Growth and Structure: Thirty Days to Deeper Faith and Stronger FoundationsLearn more: https://www.petewrightphotography.com/
“The person who really loves me will be the one who helps me die. That's love, Rosa. That's love.”Filmmaker Miguel Ángel Ferrer joins Andy Nelson and Pete Wright to talk about Alejandro Amenábar's The Sea Inside, a film that shaped how Miguel thinks about life, death, and the power of cinema.Miguel—director of The Shadow of the Sun, a moving new film about two estranged brothers chasing an impossible dream—shares the personal story of discovering The Sea Inside in an almost-empty theater, and why it remains unforgettable.“This man, through wanting to die, shows everybody around him how to truly live. You can't know the beauty of what you have if you don't know the finite nature that it has.”From survival and dignity to filmmaking as perseverance, Miguel reflects on stories that inspire, challenge, and remind us not to take life for granted.
This month on The Film Board, Pete Wright drags Andy Nelson, Tommy Metz III, and Steve Sarmento into an emergency bonus hearing because Andy texted, essentially, “We can't skip a month. Also I found a movie.” That movie is Mercy, a slick, noisy, deeply committed screenlife thriller where Chris Pratt wakes up strapped into a futuristic execution-chair-courtroom and has 90 minutes to prove he didn't kill his wife. The judge is an AI who looks like Rebecca Ferguson. Which is frankly unfair to every other AI.From there, it's a full-spoilers sprint through a world where justice is software, surveillance is just “normal life,” and every single camera on Earth is apparently pointed at exactly the wrong moment. The panel fights over what Mercy thinks it's doing (a cautionary tale about AI and institutions) versus what it actually does (a pulpy, coincidence-powered ride that occasionally forgets its own premise and wanders off toward terrorism and explosions).Andy is… not having it. Steve is torn in the way only a lover of scrappy sci-fi concepts can be: “It's messy, but I'm intrigued.” Tommy—who walked in expecting bargain-bin January nonsense—ends up delighted, especially after an accidental 3D screening turns the whole thing into a theme-park attraction where the chair is the main character. Pete tries to keep the court metaphor alive long enough to pronounce a verdict, but keeps getting distracted by the movie's most dangerous idea: not the AI, but the assumption that the only way to get “justice” is if the system can see literally everything.Also: yes, we talk about the wind. The screens have wind.Watch & DiscoverWatch Now: Apple TV | Amazon | LetterboxdOriginal Theatrical Trailer Support The Next Reel Family of Film Shows:Become a member for just $5/month or $55/yearJoin our Discord community of movie loversThe Next Reel Family of Film Shows:Cinema Scope: Bridging Genres, Subgenres, and MovementsThe Film BoardMovies We LikeThe Next ReelSitting in the DarkConnect With Us:Main Site: WebMovie Platforms: Letterboxd | FlickchartSocial Media: Facebook | Instagram | Threads | Bluesky | YouTube | PinterestYour Hosts: Pete | JJ | Steve | Tommy | Andy | Ocean Shop & Stream:Merch Store: Apparel, stickers, mugs & moreWatch Page: Buy/rent films we've discussedOriginals: Source material from our episodesSpecial offers: Audible
This week in the first of what will be three segments, Ben Leslie follows his older brother Tracy up the racing ladder, a path that led them from Michigan to the Busch Series. Ben ends up begging Roush Racing's Steve Hmiel and Robin Pemberton for a job and eventually lands a gig with the team in September 1994. Once there, he works with Roush drivers Ted Musgrave, Mark Martin and Johnny Benson. We then dig into the September 29, 1994 issue of Winston Cup Scene. Rusty Wallace dominates at Martinsville less than two weeks after one of the most important dates in the history of Winston Cup Scene. Dale Earnhardt comes back from a couple of early-race spins to finish second, while Kenny Wallace captures the best showing of his Winston Cup career to that point. Ernie Irvan surprises EVERYBODY by calling in to a legendary Charlotte radio show after surviving a near-fatal crash at Michigan the month before. There are feature stories on NASCAR memorabilia collector Wayne Keith … a news story about Travis Carter, Hut Stricklin and crew chief Pete Wright going their separate ways ... and early nominations for spots on the coveted Copenhagen/Skoal All Pro team. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
You know that moment when the room doesn't change, exactly… but you do? A joke lands a little sideways, a silence settles in, and your brain starts doing that ridiculous math where staying feels safer than leaving—even when every part of you is quietly screaming, “Go.” That's the engine of this month's Sitting in the Dark, as Pete Wright sits down with Tommy Metz III, Chelsea Stardust, and Kynan Dias to unpack “Overstayed”: three films built around the fear of the open door you don't walk through.They start with Karyn Kusama's The Invitation, a dinner party that weaponizes politeness, history, and that stubborn desire to not be the first person to say what everyone's thinking. From there, they pivot to David Bruckner's The Night House, where the trap isn't social pressure—it's grief, isolation, and a house that seems to rearrange itself into meaning when you're not looking. And then there's Damien McCarthy's Caveat, a movie that takes the idea of being “stuck” and makes it aggressively literal, daring you to decide whether you're watching realism… or a fable with teeth.Along the way, the conversation keeps circling one question: what is it in us that wants answers more than safety? It's a theme that feels uncomfortably familiar—and the kind of horror that lingers because it doesn't ask what you'd do in a haunted house. It asks what you'd do at a party, in a marriage, in a moment where the cost of being wrong feels higher than the cost of staying.Featured FilmsTonight's Triple Feature:1 - Apple TV | Amazon | Letterboxd2 - Apple TV | Amazon | Letterboxd3 - Apple TV | Amazon | Letterboxd
“I'm a Dapper Dan man!”Producer/Director Bill Banowsky joins Andy Nelson and Pete Wright to discuss O Brother, Where Art Thou? from Joel Coen, reflecting on both the film's enduring appeal and his own fascinating journey through the film industry. As co-founder of Magnolia Pictures and developer of smart house theaters, Banowsky brings unique insight to this beloved Coen Brothers comedy while also discussing his new documentary A Savage Art: The Life & Cartoons of Pat Oliphant."I think we need more films like O Brother, Where Art Thou?. You gotta find story-driven films, not technology-driven films, to save this business," says Banowsky, whose career spans from law to founding smart house theaters to directing documentaries.
This month on The Film Board, Pete Wright sits down with Tommy Metz III and Steve Sarmento to wrestle with a question that keeps resurfacing throughout Avatar: Fire and Ash: how can a movie built with such extraordinary care feel so strangely forgettable?James Cameron's return to Pandora is, once again, a monumental technical achievement. The scale is enormous. The craft is meticulous. The effort behind it is undeniable. And yet, as the conversation unfolds, the panel keeps circling the same uneasy feeling—that the film never quite gives its spectacle anything meaningful to serve.The discussion ranges from Cameron's latest performance-capture and adaptive frame-rate experiments to the franchise's growing habit of mistaking motion for momentum. There's real admiration for the artists who built this world, paired with frustration over a story that repeatedly rushes past its most interesting ideas. Themes of environmentalism, colonialism, faith, and family surface again and again, only to be flattened by familiar beats, unresolved questions, and a narrative that seems unwilling to slow down long enough to let any of them land.By the time the conversation reaches ratings, the outcome feels less like judgment and more like inevitability—the natural endpoint of trying, and failing, to locate the film's emotional center.
This month, Sitting in the Dark smiles politely, locks the door, and then asks you to reconsider every coping mechanism you've ever trusted. Tommy Metz III is joined by filmmaker Chelsea Stardust and Pete Wright to excavate the uneasy trilogy formed by Smile, Smile 2, and the short-film patient zero, Laura Hasn't Slept, all courtesy of writer-director Parker Finn—a man who looked at the concept of healing and said, “Yes, but what if absolutely not.”The conversation begins with Laura Hasn't Slept, a short film so assured it feels like a résumé quietly slid across the table while maintaining unsettling eye contact. Therapy, dreams, and sleep deprivation collide in a space that should feel safe and instead feels like a trapdoor with a co-pay. The group wrestles with the idea that this story may not be a beginning at all, but a closed loop—what it looks like once the monster has already moved in and started redecorating.From there, the episode moves into Smile, a film that takes the metaphor of trauma and strips away subtlety. It's tired of pretending this is going to end well. Broken promises pile up. Authority figures fail spectacularly. “Safe space” becomes an ironic term at best. The panel digs into the film's clinical color palette, its fixation on mirrors, and its unrelenting thesis: awareness is not protection, healing is not guaranteed, and sometimes the best you can do is not make things worse for the next person.Then Smile 2 kicks the door off its hinges. By shifting the curse to a global pop star, the sequel swaps quiet dread for public spectacle without sacrificing cruelty. Addiction, celebrity, parasocial obsession, and relentless visibility all become accelerants, pushing the franchise into its most confident—and most punishing—form. Naomi Scott's Skye Riley is surrounded by people at all times and still utterly alone, a neat trick the film performs while tightening the noose.Across all three entries, the episode circles the same bleak conclusion: these movies aren't interested in defeating trauma. They're interested in how efficiently it spreads, how convincingly it blends in, and how easily it convinces you that you're doing just fine. Smile for the camera.
Exploring Perspective Through the LensLondon-based cinematographer Mattias Nyberg joins Movies We Like hosts Andy Nelson and Pete Wright to discuss David Lynch's Mulholland Drive. Drawing from his recent work on Amazon/MGM's The Girlfriend, Nyberg explores how Lynch and cinematographer Peter Deming created one of cinema's most compelling psychological thrillers through innovative perspective shifts and unsettling camera techniques.Nyberg's path to cinematography began unusually—as a professional hockey player in rural Sweden before discovering film during a temporary stay in London. Now a governor of the British Society of Cinematographers, his work on projects like The Girlfriend and Netflix's The Decameron demonstrates his mastery of visual storytelling through careful camera placement and measured pacing, particularly in building tension.The conversation delves into how Mulholland Drive masterfully manipulates audience perspective, with Nyberg offering technical insights about Deming's subtle camera movements and Lynch's unconventional shot choices. Through seemingly disconnected scenes and dreamlike sequences, the film creates an atmosphere of sustained unease that deepens rather than diminishes its impact. Nyberg connects these techniques to his own work on The Girlfriend, particularly in how camera positioning and sustained shots can build tension more effectively than rapid cutting.In both works, we see how thoughtful cinematography can elevate storytelling beyond conventional narrative into psychological complexity. Nyberg's deep appreciation for Mulholland Drive and its influence on contemporary television reveals how cinema's visual language continues to evolve while remaining rooted in the power of patient, confident camera work.
The workplace in 2025 feels like it's moving at double speed. Federal contractors saw affirmative action requirements disappear virtually overnight. DEI programs have gone from top priority to barely mentioned in less than a year. AI is racing ahead of regulation, and states like Massachusetts are charting their own course while the federal government pulls in the opposite direction.Pete Wright sits down with Tom Jones and Kyle Pardo to make sense of it all. They walk through what the rollback of Executive Order 11246 means for employers still figuring out what they're required to track, how DEI is quietly shifting toward broader inclusion efforts, and why Massachusetts employers need to watch for changes to state average weekly wage calculations. The conversation also touches on what AI regulation might look like when the technology is evolving faster than lawmakers can keep up, and why remote work mandates are hitting morale harder than many leaders expected.But the biggest revelation comes from AIM's latest HR practices survey: for the first time in years, employee engagement and morale have become the number one priority for employers heading into 2026, surpassing even compensation. It's a signal that something fundamental has shifted in how organizations are thinking about their people. This episode offers a clear-eyed look at the year that was and what HR teams should be watching as they head into the next.AIM members can reach the HR Helpline at 800-470-6277 or helpline@aimnet.org for inquiries Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. (EST). Email requests will be responded to within 24 hours. Links & NotesExecutive Order 11246 (Wikipedia overview) — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Executive_Order_11246 (historical context and 2025 repeal information)I-9 Central (USCIS) — https://www.uscis.gov/i-9-central (comprehensive I-9 compliance guidance)Form I-9 (USCIS) — https://www.uscis.gov/i-9 (current form and instructions)Handbook for Employers M-274 — https://www.uscis.gov/i-9-central/form-i-9-resources/handbook-for-employers-m-274 (detailed guidance for completing I-9)Massachusetts Workers' Compensation Rates — https://www.mass.gov/info-details/minimum-and-maximum-compensation-rates (official state average weekly wage information)Massachusetts PFML 2025 Updates — https://www.fisherphillips.com/en/news-insights/massachusetts-employers-should-prepare-for-2026-paid-family-and-medical-leave-updates.html (state average weekly wage and benefit updates)State AI Legislation 2025 (Future of Privacy Forum) — https://fpf.org/blog/the-state-of-state-ai-legislative-approaches-to-ai-in-2025/ (comprehensive analysis of state AI laws)NCSL Artificial Intelligence 2025 Legislation — https://www.ncsl.org/technology-and-communication/artificial-intelligence-2025-legislation (tracker of AI bills by state)State AI Laws 2025 (White & Case) — https://www.whitecase.com/insight-alert/california-kentucky-tracking-rise-state-ai-laws-2025 (detailed breakdown of enacted state AI laws) AIM HR Solutions Training CatalogAIM members can reach the HR Helpline at 800-470-6277 or helpline@aimnet.org for inquiries Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. (EST). Email requests will be responded to within 24 hours.
A locked church. A sermon mid-amen. A knife that absolutely should not be where it is. This month, The Film Board turns its attention to Wake Up, Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery, the most austere—and maybe most confrontational—entry yet in Rian Johnson's whodunit canon. From the opening minutes, the film dares the audience to argue with it: what you just saw could not have happened… and yet here we are.Pete Wright is joined by Steve Sarmento, Mandy Kaplan, and Tommy Metz III to wrestle with a mystery that swaps billionaire excess for spiritual rot, replacing champagne flutes with hymnals and certainty with something far more dangerous. The panel digs into Johnson's tonal gamble—less joy, more gravity—and whether a franchise built on clever fun can survive a movie so willing to sit in moral discomfort.The conversation dives deep into the film's mechanics: the church as a performance space, the precision of the Lazarus door, the way light itself becomes a narrative instrument, and how the film quietly trains you to look without ever announcing it's doing so. There's admiration for the film's rewatchability, its refusal to hide answers offscreen, and its confidence in letting silence—and doubt—do real work.Benoit Blanc, played once again by Daniel Craig, emerges subtly transformed: less showman, more listener. The panel explores what it means for a great cinematic detective to say “I don't know” and mean something different every time. Along the way, there's sharp appreciation for Josh Brolin's venomous Monsignor Wicks, Glenn Close's inevitable gravitational pull, and a stacked ensemble that understands exactly when to lean in—and when to get out of the way.
“Nobody's perfect. There was never a perfect person around. You just have half-angel and half-devil in you.”Cinematographer Marcus Patterson joins Movies We Like hosts Andy Nelson and Pete Wright to discuss Terrence Malick's 1978 masterpiece Days of Heaven. Drawing from his own experience shooting the anthology film Sunfish (& Other Stories on Green Lake), Patterson explores how Malick and cinematographers Néstor Almendros and Haskell Wexler crafted one of cinema's most visually stunning achievements through their innovative use of natural light and magic hour photography.Patterson's journey to cinematography wasn't direct – he tried acting, writing, and editing before discovering his passion behind the camera. Starting with short films in Alabama, he developed his craft through countless projects before moving to Los Angeles. His work on Sunfish demonstrates his ability to capture intimate human moments while maintaining a painterly approach to composition and lighting, particularly in natural settings.The conversation explores how Days of Heaven revolutionized the use of natural light in cinema, with Patterson offering technical insights about how Almendros and Wexler achieved their remarkable images. Through Linda Manz's narration, the film presents its tragic love triangle from a child's perspective, creating emotional distance that heightens rather than diminishes its impact. Patterson connects these techniques to his own work on Sunfish, particularly in capturing the languid atmosphere of lake life and the delicate interplay of light and water.In both films, we see how careful attention to natural light and composition can elevate storytelling beyond mere narrative into the realm of visual poetry. Patterson's deep appreciation for Days of Heaven and its influence on his own work reveals how cinema's visual language continues to evolve while remaining rooted in these foundational techniques of capturing light and life on film.
“Stop filming me!”The Film Board Gathers! This time, they're racing through Edgar Wright's adaptation of The Running Man, a sharper, more faithful take on Richard Bachman's/Stephen King's dystopian manhunt. Glenn Powell stars as Ben Richards, sprinting for survival and truth in a world where entertainment is weaponized and every choice is content.Pete Wright leads Tommy Metz III, Steve Sarmento, Matthew Fox, and Mandy Kaplan through a deep dive into this reimagining. The panel tackles everything from Josh Brolin's corporate menace to Coleman Domingo's pitch-perfect propaganda host, debating how Wright balances King's nihilistic source material with Hollywood's need for hope. They explore the film's commentary on surveillance, media manipulation, and AI deep fakes, all while questioning whether Wright's signature style gets lost in the chase.While the group largely praises Powell's charismatic lead performance and the film's updated themes, they clash over the rushed ending and whether dystopian tales can (or should) offer uplift in 2025. The conversation ranges from adaptation choices and censorship quirks to Michael Cera's panic room and the eerie prescience of King's original vision.Is this a faithful sprint through broken society or just dystopia with a Disney sheen? Grab your tracking beacon, dodge the drones, and find out as the Film Board breaks down every checkpoint of The Running Man. (Just watch out for those AI face swaps.)
As many of us navigate shifting routines and rising expectations right now, it's a perfect time to revisit this affirming conversation with Nikki Kinzer and Pete Wright. Together we unpack what it means to stop fighting yourself, lean into your strengths, and build supportive systems that make life feel lighter, not harder. A great listen if you need a dose of ADHD-friendly self-compassion this week. Unapologetically ADHD: A Step-by-Step Framework For Everyday Planning On Your Terms by Nikki Kinzer & Pete D. Wright If you'd like to send me a question answer on the show feel free to head over to hackingyouradhd.com/contact and click the orange button Support me on Patreon Ask me a question on my Contact Page Find the show note at HackingYourADHD.com/195 This Episode's Top Tips Embrace your ADHD and plan your day around it to avoid unrealistic expectations and the ensuing shame. When looking for a system, we need to recognize that no one-size-fits-all tool exists. Try to avoid the trap of looking for the best options; focus instead on eliminating the worst options to simplify decision-making. When we recognize the importance of revisiting and adjusting our systems regularly rather than constantly switching to new tools, it'll help us acknowledge that every tool or system will have days it fails. With that in mind, we can focus on embracing resilience so we can get back on track when things do go awry.
How to Split a Toaster: A divorce podcast about saving your relationships
The Final Toast: Answering Your Burning Divorce QuestionsIn this farewell episode of How to Split a Toaster, family law attorney Seth Nelson and co-host Pete Wright tackle a collection of diverse listener questions about divorce, relationships, and co-parenting. From custody concerns to financial disputes, they address the complex challenges many face during separation.Key Questions AddressedThe hosts explore crucial topics including coercive control in divorce, psychological evaluations for new partners, dissipation of assets, and enforcing custody agreements across international borders. Seth provides practical legal insights while Pete offers thoughtful perspective on navigating these challenging situations.Notable Legal InsightsChild support and alimony obligations remain non-dischargeable even in bankruptcyCourts take coercive control seriously when properly documented and presentedForeign divorce judgments can be domesticated and enforced in U.S. courts with proper procedureCo-Parenting ChallengesSeth and Pete discuss strategies for handling difficult co-parenting dynamics, including:Managing relationships with new partnersProtecting children during high-conflict divorcesNavigating custody when mental health issues are involvedAddressing parental alienation concernsFinancial ConsiderationsThe episode covers important financial aspects of divorce:Division of marital assets and debtsHandling joint business interestsPension division through QDROsTax implications of custody arrangementsAs their final episode, Seth and Pete reflect on over 230 episodes helping listeners navigate divorce while preserving relationships. While new episodes won't be produced, the extensive archive remains available as an ongoing resource for those facing divorce and separation challenges.This farewell episode encapsulates the show's core mission: providing practical legal guidance and relationship-saving strategies to help listeners move forward constructively after divorce.Links & NotesSchedule a consult with SethGot a question you want to ask on the show? Click here! (00:00) - Welcome to How to Split a Toaster (00:26) - Listener Questions (00:50) - Question 1: Trapped and Terrified (03:04) - Question 2: Barb L. (04:08) - Question 3: Rhonda and Gene (05:32) - Question 4: Deb (09:59) - Question 5: Deduction Dilemma in Denver (11:54) - Question 6: Drained and Dissipated (14:29) - Question 7: CEO in Crisis (16:43) - Question 8: Secretly Surveilled (18:02) - Question 9: Overseas Obstacle (19:48) - Question 10: Drowning in Debt (20:29) - Question 11: Rental Dilemma (22:23) - Question 12: Expatriot Predicament (23:34) - Question 13: Blindsided Bride (25:05) - Question 14: Bankrupt and Bewildered (26:04) - Question 15: Desperate Dad (27:53) - Question 16: Bullied by the Bar (29:30) - Question 17: Closeted and Concerned (30:52) - Question 18: High-Conflict Headache (31:59) - Question 19: Accused of Agreement Breach (34:23) - Question 20: Stymied by Shoddy Split (38:02) - Our Last Episode!
Pete Wright has spent decades amplifying other people's voices. As a producer, he's an invisible architect of countless conversations, the one who shapes stories without telling them, who creates space for others to shine while remaining carefully out of frame. But what happens when the producer becomes the protagonist?In this episode of Mission Forward, Carrie turns the tables on her own show's producer—a role reversal that reveals something unexpected about the nature of legacy, presence, and the stories we tell ourselves about who we are.Pete's journey from behind-the-scenes collaborator to solo podcaster with "Headstone" represents more than just a podcast pivot. It's a confrontation with what he calls a "terrifying hello"—the moment when there's no net, no team, no one to blame or credit but yourself. For someone who has made a living being the essential person nobody sees, stepping into the spotlight requires a fundamental reimagining of identity.The conversation that emerges between Carrie and Pete is intimate in the way that only comes when two people who've worked together closely finally sit down to really see each other. They explore the deaths that shaped them, the hellos that changed them, and the space between where presence lives."Saying hello is an act of courage because it implies change," Pete says, getting to the heart of why so many of us struggle with transitions. Every hello promises that something about us will be different on the other side. Every goodbye demands we let go of a version of ourselves we've grown comfortable being.In an industry obsessed with personal branding and thought leadership, Pete has built a career on making other people's ideas more powerful. His new solo podcast isn't an abandonment of that philosophy but an evolution of it—using his platform to explore how ordinary people create extraordinary legacies through the simple act of being present for one another.As Pete and Carrie navigate questions about presence, legacy, and the space between hellos and goodbyes, they reveal something essential about how change actually works: it's not in the dramatic moments but in the daily practice of showing up, of choosing courage over comfort, of saying yes to the person you're becoming while honoring who you've been.Links and NotesHeadstone with Pete Wright“How to Be Remembered Without Saying a Word With Carrie Fox,” Carrie's appearance on "Headstone," July 19, 2025“After Life,” Radiolab, First Broadcast July 27, 2009 (00:00) - Welcome to Mission Forward (04:53) - The Story of Headstone (25:53) - The courage of Hello (31:09) - Enough is Enough ___This episode is also brought to you by Positively Partners. When HR starts to slow down your mission, it's time for a better solution. Positively HR is the fully outsourced HR partner that understands nonprofits—and acts like part of your team. Learn more at PositivelyPartners.org.
How to Split a Toaster: A divorce podcast about saving your relationships
Looking in the Mirror: Finding Self-Awareness Through DivorceFamily law attorney Seth Nelson and Pete Wright welcome Lionel Moses, a Desert Storm veteran and relationship coach who helps people break unhealthy relationship patterns through what he calls "the mirror effect." This powerful episode of How to Split a Toaster explores how divorce can become a catalyst for essential self-discovery and growth.The Mirror Effect in RelationshipsDrawing from his experiences through two divorces, Lionel shares how seeing himself as the common denominator led to transformative insights about relationship patterns. As a self-described "people pleaser," he discovered that his tendency to fix others' problems masked deeper emotional needs that went unaddressed in his marriages.Breaking Cycles Through Self-AwarenessSeth brings his legal expertise to the conversation, highlighting how emotional readiness impacts divorce proceedings. When clients focus exclusively on their former spouse's behavior rather than their own growth, it often complicates and extends the legal process. The discussion reveals how self-awareness can lead to more constructive co-parenting relationships and healthier future partnerships.From Performance to AuthenticityLionel's concept of "performative relationships" resonates throughout the conversation, as he describes moving from seeking external validation to developing genuine self-love. This transformation enabled him to build more authentic connections and achieve amicable co-parenting relationships—a goal many find challenging during divorce.Key Insights• Examine your patterns in relationships rather than focusing solely on your partner's behavior• Develop emotional resilience by understanding your authentic needs versus performative habits• Build self-awareness before entering new relationships to break recurring relationship cyclesThis episode offers invaluable guidance for anyone navigating divorce or seeking healthier relationship patterns. Through Lionel's candid sharing and Seth's legal wisdom, listeners gain practical tools for self-reflection and personal growth during major life transitions.Whether you're considering divorce, in the midst of proceedings, or rebuilding after separation, this conversation provides a roadmap for using life's challenges as opportunities for transformation and healing.Links & NotesFind Lionel on his website, LinkedIn, Facebook, InstagramCheck out The Marriage SeedSchedule a consult with Seth (00:00) - Welcome to How to Split a Toaster (00:26) - Meet Lionel Moses (00:58) - What Is the Mirror Effect? (02:18) - The Transformation (03:46) - Too Much Focus on the Other Side (06:28) - Figuring Out How to Manage Relationships (11:20) - Emotional Resilience (14:40) - Reflecting on What You Were Attracting (15:48) - The Marriage Seed (21:02) - Connecting to Legal Commitments (23:46) - Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs (26:27) - Making Hard Decisions (28:03) - Performative (30:16) - Wrap Up
There's a moment every HR professional remembers — that first email, that first conversation, that first tremor in the air when “return to office” stopped being a policy discussion and started being personal. Three years ago, the message was simple: Stay home, stay safe. Now it's: Come back. And in between, everything about how we work — and what we value — has changed.In this episode of Human Solutions, Pete Wright sits down with AIM HR Solutions' Tom Jones and Annette Dupree to explore the strange, often uneasy middle ground between flexibility and structure, empathy and compliance. It's a story about the quiet negotiations happening in every workplace — between leaders trying to rebuild culture and employees trying to preserve the balance they finally found.Annette starts with something deceptively simple: mindset. What if return-to-office isn't about control, but reconnection? What if the message isn't we need you here, but we miss you here? From that shift, a thousand possibilities open up — from reimagining flexibility to reframing belonging.Tom, meanwhile, brings the legal lens: what happens when compassion meets compliance? When a doctor's note becomes a line in the sand? He explains the fine print of the interactive dialogue — that delicate conversation between employee, manager, and HR that determines what's possible and what isn't. It's the kind of process that sounds bureaucratic but, done right, can restore trust instead of eroding it.And then there's the harder truth: sometimes, it isn't about coming back. It's about who comes back. Reductions in force test the soul of an organization. Tom and Annette walk through how to make those decisions — how to document criteria, avoid bias, and resist the all-too-human temptation to let frustration drive strategy. Because when layoffs happen, the work doesn't end. It shifts.This is an episode about the messy, necessary work of being human at work — and the leaders who try, every day, to get it right. AIM HR Solutions Training CatalogAIM members can reach the HR Helpline at 800-470-6277 or helpline@aimnet.org for inquiries Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. (EST). Email requests will be responded to within 24 hours.
Greetings, Users! The Film Board Gathers again—this time to boot up TRON: Ares, Disney's latest attempt to update a franchise that still doesn't understand what “updating” means. Pete Wright, Tommy Metz III, Steve Sarmento, and Mandy Kaplan log on to debate Jared Leto's turn as an AI messiah with great hair and no emotional bandwidth, and Greta Lee's heroic attempt to act her way out of the mainframe.The panel tackles the film's tangled themes—AI, empathy, and whatever Jared Leto thinks a “character arc” is—before turning to the one thing everyone agrees on: the Nine Inch Nails score absolutely slaps. The music may be futuristic perfection, even if the story feels like it's still buffering from 2011.So, is TRON: Ares a bold leap into a new digital age or just a flickering screensaver of nostalgia and noise? Plug in, charge your light disc, and find out as the Film Board decodes every pixel of this glowing glitch in the Disney matrix.Film SundriesWatch: Apple TV | LetterboxdOriginal Theatrical Trailer Support The Next Reel Family of Film Podcasts:Become a member for just $5/month or $55/yearJoin our Discord community of movie loversThe Next Reel Family of Film Podcasts:Cinema Scope: Bridging Genres, Subgenres, and MovementsThe Film BoardMovies We LikeThe Next Reel Film PodcastSitting in the DarkConnect With Us:Main Site: WebMovie Platforms: Letterboxd | FlickchartSocial Media: Facebook | Instagram | Threads | Bluesky | YouTube | PinterestYour Hosts: Pete | JJ | Steve | Tommy | Andy | Ocean Shop & Stream:Merch Store: Apparel, stickers, mugs & moreWatch Page: Buy/rent films we've discussedOriginals: Source material from our episodesSpecial offers: Letterboxd Pro/Patron discount | Audible
How to Split a Toaster: A divorce podcast about saving your relationships
Self-Sabotage in Divorce: Understanding Hidden PatternsIn this compelling episode of How to Split a Toaster, Seth Nelson and Pete Wright explore the psychology of self-sabotage during divorce with guest expert Dr. Philip Agrios. The conversation delves into how unconscious patterns can derail both relationships and divorce proceedings.Understanding Self-SabotageDr. Agrios identifies three fundamental reasons for self-sabotage: past success followed by loss, avoiding necessary actions, and fear that success brings more pain. These patterns particularly impact divorce proceedings where emotional stakes are high and rational decision-making is crucial.Legal Impact and Court BehaviorSeth Nelson emphasizes how self-sabotage manifests in legal settings, particularly during depositions and court appearances. Clients often undermine their cases by over-talking, treating minor issues as emergencies, or failing to provide required documentation timely—all of which increase legal costs and complexity.Key Insights:Self-sabotage often serves as unconscious protection from perceived greater painCourt time constraints require focusing on truly significant issuesUnderstanding behavioral patterns helps navigate divorce more effectivelyBreaking Free from Self-Sabotaging PatternsThe discussion outlines practical strategies for recognizing and addressing self-sabotage, including:Identifying protective behaviors versus growth behaviorsWorking with attorneys efficiently to manage costsUnderstanding personal triggers and responsesThe episode provides valuable insights for anyone navigating divorce while dealing with self-sabotaging tendencies. Dr. Agrios' expertise combined with Seth's legal experience offers practical tools for maintaining focus and making better decisions during divorce proceedings.Links & NotesCheck out Dr. Philip Agrios on his website, LinkedIn, X/Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, and YouTubeCheck out Dr. Philip's book Life's One LawSchedule a consult with Seth (00:00) - Welcome to How to Split a Toaster (00:26) - Meet Dr. Philip Agrios (01:06) - Recognizing Self Sabotage (02:40) - Three Reasons (05:16) - Afraid to Succeed (09:06) - Staying Can Be Self-Sabotaging (12:04) - During the Divorce Process (16:05) - Emotional Superpowers (18:38) - Three Traits (20:33) - Self-Sabotage in Court (24:54) - Tying Back to the Principles (27:21) - Becoming Self-Aware of Self-Sabotaging Tendencies (33:15) - Wrap Up
Imagine this: one person spends ten minutes with their doctor, walks out with a prescription, and calls it an ADHD diagnosis. Another spends an entire day in a psychologist's office, testing memory, attention, and executive function, only to arrive at the very same conclusion. Which one is “real”? Which one counts?In this episode, Pete Wright and Nikki Kinzer talk with psychologist Dr. Amie DeHarpporte, who has spent her career living at the intersection of these contradictions. Once a high school teacher and now a specialist in ADHD assessment, Dr. DeHarpporte has seen how elusive—and yet how desperately needed—a clear diagnosis can be. She explains why ADHD is simultaneously overdiagnosed and underdiagnosed, how TikTok has blurred the boundaries of what people think ADHD looks like, and why the process is as much art as it is science.But the story isn't just about tests and checklists. At its heart, a diagnosis is about validation—about someone finally saying, yes, what you've been experiencing all these years is real. Dr. DeHarpporte takes us inside her practice, showing how thorough assessment can unravel years of shame, rewrite self-narratives, and reveal strengths hidden in plain sight.What you'll discover is that ADHD diagnosis isn't a binary. It's a lens, a way of telling the story of your life with more clarity. And sometimes, that clarity is the most important prescription of all.Links & NotesDr. Amie DeHarpporte's practice: Portage PsychologyUnapologetically ADHD paperback release October 28Support the Show on PatreonADHD Discord CommunityDig into the podcast Shownotes Database (00:00) - Welcome to Taking Control: The ADHD Podcast (03:14) - Support the Show! (05:43) - Introducing Dr. Amie DeHarpporte (07:24) - The Diagnosis Space (14:18) - What goes into a diagnosis ---Conquer the Holiday Season with ADHD! Registration is Now Open!Navigate the holiday season without the burnout. This 4-week workshop series combines strategic planning, project management, and decluttering support with body doubling sessions that get things actually done. You'll build your holiday plan in October, execute it with support through November, and reset peacefully in January—all with a community that understands your ADHD brain. Register today at https://takecontroladhd.com/holidays. ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★
How to Split a Toaster: A divorce podcast about saving your relationships
Digital Divorce: Managing Your Tech Life After SeparationSeth Nelson and Pete Wright discuss the often-overlooked digital aspects of divorce. They explore how to handle shared digital assets, from photos and passwords to smart home devices and streaming services.Key Digital Assets to AddressThe hosts identify several critical digital touchpoints that need attention during divorce:Cloud storage and shared photo albumsSmart home devices and security systemsLocation sharing services and trackingStreaming services and digital purchasesPassword managers and account accessFamily calendars and school portalsLegal and Security ConsiderationsSeth emphasizes the importance of proper timing when modifying digital access, particularly regarding shared homes and accounts. The discussion covers potential legal issues with unauthorized account access and the benefits of starting fresh with new accounts post-divorce.Key Insights:• Create new separate accounts rather than trying to untangle shared ones• Turn on two-factor authentication for all important accounts• Don't delete digital content until after divorce proceedings concludePractical Digital Separation StepsThe hosts recommend:Digitizing physical photos and albums early in the processSetting up independent password management systemsEstablishing new banking relationshipsCreating fresh email accounts without personally identifiable informationSmart Home SecurityPete and Seth discuss the delicate timing of changing smart home access, emphasizing that modifications should align with legal possession arrangements rather than emotional impulses.This episode provides essential guidance for maintaining digital boundaries while navigating divorce, highlighting both technical and legal considerations for separating intertwined digital lives.Links & NotesSchedule a consult with SethGot a question you want to ask on the show? Click here! (00:00) - Welcome to How to Split a Toaster (00:27) - The Digital Divide (02:13) - Photos (05:38) - Cloud Services (07:36) - Smart Homes (09:25) - Changing the Locks (10:23) - When It's Appropriate to Remove Someone (11:54) - Location Sharing Tools (13:42) - Entertainment Services (17:26) - Password Managers (21:36) - Logging into Your Ex's Accounts (23:23) - Family Communication (25:25) - Including These Items in a Divorce Agreement (26:11) - Securing Yourself Going Forward (29:36) - When Can You Purge (30:11) - Wrap Up
Paul Thomas Anderson just made an action movie you can take your in-laws to without a 20-minute lecture about American masculinity and bowling metaphors. One Battle After Another is PTA's $175 million plunge into the now, mixing the absurdity of a stoner dad in a bathrobe with a razor-sharp allegory about fascism, power, and family. Leonardo DiCaprio leads as a washed-up revolutionary trying to rescue his daughter (Chase Infinity) from Sean Penn's snarling, broken military villain, and the result is both wildly funny and uncomfortably timely.Pete Wright, Tommy Metz III, and Steve Sarmento dig deep into the contradictions and triumphs of the film. They debate Sean Penn's feral Lockjaw, the Christmas Adventurers Club (absurdist satire or terrifying cabal?), and the grounded humanity of the father-daughter story that anchors the spectacle. From Benicio del Toro's Zen “Sensei” to Johnny Greenwood's jagged score to the breathtaking desert chase sequence, the conversation unpacks how PTA manages to hold together chaos, comedy, and heartbreak in a film that already feels like one of the year's defining works.As always, the panelists disagree (sometimes passionately) on the ending, the satire, and whether it all needs that extra denouement in Office 55. But they unite on one point: this is the kind of audacious, ambitious, theatrical cinema you absolutely need to see on the biggest screen you can find.Links & NotesWatch Now: Apple TV | Amazon | LetterboxdOriginal Theatrical TrailerVery Loosely Adapted from Vineland (Classic, 20th-Century, Penguin) by Thomas Pynchon Support The Next Reel Family of Film Podcasts:Become a member for just $5/month or $55/yearJoin our Discord community of movie loversThe Next Reel Family of Film Podcasts:Cinema Scope: Bridging Genres, Subgenres, and MovementsThe Film BoardMovies We LikeThe Next Reel Film PodcastSitting in the DarkConnect With Us:Main Site: WebMovie Platforms: Letterboxd | FlickchartSocial Media: Facebook | Instagram | Threads | Bluesky | YouTube | PinterestYour Hosts: Pete | JJ | Steve | Tommy | Andy | Ocean Shop & Stream:Merch Store: Apparel, stickers, mugs & moreWatch Page: Buy/rent films we've discussedOriginals: Source material from our episodesSpecial offers: Letterboxd Pro/Patron discount | Audible
We like to think the workplace is a place of routine—a clock in, clock out kind of world. But for many immigrants, and for the employers who hire them, work has become a legal maze. Today, we look at what it means to operate in the shadow of ICE, to lead in the face of changing rules, and to humanize the labor force behind the policy headlines. Welcome to this special episode of Human Solutions: Simplifying HR for People who Love HR from AIM HR Solutions. I'm Pete Wright, and today, we're pulling back the curtain on one of the most misunderstood and under-discussed aspects of the American workplace: immigration. Our focus is on just policy, sure. But even more important: it's people. It's fear. It's the daily decisions business leaders have to make without a clear map. Joining us to help navigate this are two remarkable experts: Ana Cristina Chavez, Corporate Engagement Specialist at MIRA, and AIM's Senior Vice President Employer Services Terry Cook.Links & NotesGovernor's Office Guidance for Employers Regarding Immigration and Work AuthorizationNew Americans in MassachusettsNational Immigration Law Center • What to Do if Immigration Comes to Your WorkplaceModel Workplace Policy for Responding to Immigration and Customs enforcement • Asian Americans Advancing Justice AIM HR Solutions Training CatalogAIM members can reach the HR Helpline at 800-470-6277 or helpline@aimnet.org for inquiries Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. (EST). Email requests will be responded to within 24 hours.
Memory isn't just about recall — it's about learning, encoding, storing, and retrieving information in ways that actually work with your brain. In this conversation, Pete Wright and Nikki Kinzer continue the ADHD in College series with returning guest Dr. Daniella Karidi, diving deep into the practical study strategies that help students and adults build lasting memory.From note-taking that actually supports learning, to strategies for sleep, nutrition, and asking for help, Daniella lays out a roadmap that makes studying less overwhelming and more effective. Whether you're heading into a new semester, studying for certification, or just trying to remember what's in that self-help book you just read, this episode gives you tools that can help you work with your ADHD brain — not against it.Links & NotesJoin Focus on ADHD Books | BookclubsSupport the Show on PatreonDig into the podcast Shownotes Database (00:00) - Welcome to Taking Control: The ADHD Podcast (02:55) - Daniella Karidi, Ph.D. (05:47) - Predicting Success in College (22:08) - The Classroom Experience (29:39) - Repetition and Finding Distinction in Information (41:13) - Energy (45:59) - Asking for Help
This is A Fan-Favorite Rerun EpisodeIn this inspiring episode, I'm joined by two incredible guests, Pete Wright and Nikki Kinzer, the dynamic duo behind the new book, Unapologetically ADHD. With decades of combined experience in coaching, podcasting, and living with ADHD, Pete and Nikki share their unique journey of co-authoring their book and the lessons they've learned about failure, success, and working together as a team. We dive into their podcasting journey, strategies for navigating big projects, and how they've redefined ADHD productivity with compassion and practicality.Nikki Kinzer is a professional certified ADHD coach through the International Coaching Federation (ICF). She's been coaching adults with ADHD since 2010 and has built a business around supporting the ADHD community through coaching, teaching, and podcasting. She lives with her husband, Brad, in Springfield, Oregon. Pete Wright was diagnosed with ADHD when he was 28 and has spent the better part of his life since then studying and podcasting about his lived ADHD experience. He is a professional podcaster and co-founder of the TruStory FM podcast network. He's a former journalist, educator, and public relations executive and lives with his wife, Kira, in Portland, Oregon. Episode Highlights:[0:00] - Pete reflects on reprogramming how we view failure.[0:44] - Introducing Pete Wright and Nikki Kinzer, their backgrounds, and the new book.[2:35] - The origins of their podcast and the magic of their partnership.[7:15] - Nikki's journey into ADHD coaching and the transition to focusing on ADHD clients.[13:20] - Pete's perspective on working with a professional organizer and managing ADHD.[17:03] - How their second book came to life and what made the process smoother.[22:22] - Strategies they used to tackle challenges during the writing process.[29:01] - Key takeaways from Unapologetically ADHD for managing big projects.[37:37] - Pete's deep dive into routines, executive function, and strategic friction.[43:12] - Final reflections: reframing failure and embracing being unapologetically ADHD. Links & ResourcesVisit Pete and Nikki's website: takecontroladhd.comOrder their book, Unapologetically ADHD: https://takecontroladhd.com/adhdbook Listen to their podcast: Taking Control: The ADHD Podcast wherever you get your podcasts. https://takecontroladhd.com/the-adhd-podcast Thank you for tuning into "SuccessFULL with ADHD." If this episode has impacted you, remember to rate, follow, share, and review our podcast. Your support helps us reach and help more individuals navigating their journeys with ADHD.
AI is already showing up in HR, whether it's writing job posts, drafting performance reviews, or powering employee chatbots. But when does it actually help, and when does it cross the line into risk? In this episode of Human Solutions, Pete Wright sits down with Kyle Pardo and Terry Cook to talk through the real-world ways AI is being used in HR today—and the very real challenges it brings with it.Kyle shares where AI shines in everyday workflows—first drafts, checklists, and summarizing feedback—while Terry highlights the legal and ethical traps that can follow, from biased algorithms in recruiting to compliance errors that could land an employer in hot water. Together, they unpack why “human in the loop” isn't just a catchphrase, but the key to making sure AI adds value without undermining trust.The conversation also digs into guardrails every HR team should be thinking about: data security, identity verification, and building living AI policies that evolve with the technology. Whether you're experimenting with new tools or worried about shadow AI use in your company, this episode offers a grounded look at how HR leaders can embrace the benefits while avoiding the pitfalls.Links & NotesAIM HR Solutions Training CatalogAIM members can reach the HR Helpline at 800-470-6277 or helpline@aimnet.org for inquiries Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. (EST). Email requests will be responded to within 24 hours. AIM HR Solutions offers supervisor training and reasonable suspicion training, for more information visit our website at www.AIMHRSolutions.com AIM HR Solutions Training CatalogAIM members can reach the HR Helpline at 800-470-6277 or helpline@aimnet.org for inquiries Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. (EST). Email requests will be responded to within 24 hours.
How to Split a Toaster: A divorce podcast about saving your relationships
Navigating Modern Divorce: Technology, Communication, and Moving ForwardIn this listener Q&A episode of How to Split a Toaster, divorce attorney Seth Nelson and host Pete Wright tackle pressing questions about divorce in the digital age. The discussion covers everything from managing electronic communications with ex-partners to the challenges of relocation and new relationships.Digital Age Divorce ChallengesThe hosts explore how technology has transformed divorce and co-parenting, addressing concerns about constant communication through phones and co-parenting apps. Seth provides practical strategies for setting boundaries while maintaining necessary contact, especially regarding court-ordered response times and children's FaceTime calls.Legal Considerations and Personal GrowthThe conversation shifts to critical legal topics like relocation, annulments, and protecting oneself in future relationships. Seth emphasizes the importance of consulting local jurisdiction laws while offering insights on navigating high-conflict situations and managing communication effectively.Mental Health and Moving ForwardA significant portion focuses on the value of mental health support before, during, and after divorce. The hosts discuss how emotional work can positively impact custody arrangements and co-parenting relationships, while emphasizing the importance of setting healthy boundaries.Key Insights:• Set clear communication boundaries through co-parenting apps and scheduled check-ins• Consider mental health support early in the divorce process to improve outcomes• Protect yourself legally and emotionally in future relationships through careful planningThe episode provides practical guidance for managing modern divorce challenges while maintaining focus on healthy relationships and effective co-parenting. Listeners gain valuable insights from both legal and personal growth perspectives, helping them navigate their divorce journey more effectively.For anyone facing divorce in today's interconnected world, this episode offers essential strategies for managing technology, protecting their interests, and maintaining healthy boundaries while prioritizing children's well-being.Links & NotesRead BIFF: Quick Responses to High-Conflict People, Their Personal Attacks, Hostile Email and Social Media Meltdowns by Bill EddyTune in to It's All Your Fault: The Hight Conflict People podcast with Bill Eddy and Megan HunterSchedule a consult with SethGot a question you want to ask on the show? Click here! (00:00) - Welcome to How to Split a Toaster (00:26) - Question One (06:39) - Question Two (09:27) - Questions Three and Four (16:42) - Question Five (19:12) - Question Six (22:02) - Question Seven (25:07) - Question Eight (25:52) - Question Nine (29:38) - Wrap Up
How to Split a Toaster: A divorce podcast about saving your relationships
What do you do when the most emotionally complicated part of your divorce isn't your ex, your kids, or even the lawyer sitting across the table—but your living room? On this episode of How to Split a Toaster, family law attorney Seth Nelson and Pete Wright explore the profound entanglement between memory and materiality in divorce, with guest Nanette Murphy—a certified divorce and life transition coach who specializes in helping women navigate separation after long-term marriage.Nanette brings a compassionate, lived-in expertise to the topic of shared spaces—how the family home, often the most contested asset, transforms into a symbol of what was, and what needs to be left behind. The conversation unpacks how emotional attachment to a home can cloud decision-making, stretch finances, and stall healing. From repainting walls to rerouting your daily path through the kitchen, Nanette offers strategies to reclaim space—both literally and psychologically.Seth adds the critical legal perspective, offering insight into when it makes financial sense to keep the house, when to walk away, and how to ensure you're not mortgaging your future just to hold onto your past. And Pete probes the deeper question: is your desire to stay rooted in care, or control? Together, the trio explores how to break up with your home, make peace with your stuff, and move forward with purpose.Key InsightsLetting go of the home can unlock emotional and financial freedomRedefining physical space helps rewire emotional memoryDivorce coaching prepares clients to approach legal decisions with clarityThis episode is for anyone facing the wrenching choice of what to take—and what to leave behind—when your relationship ends but your memories remain. Divorce isn't just a legal process. It's a spatial one. A sensory one. And sometimes, the most healing thing you can do is move your pizza cutter to a new drawer.Links & NotesNanette Murphy: Live Life Now With PurposeSecond Act: Navigating Gray Divorce (00:00) - Welcome to How to Split a Toaster (09:31) - Ghosts in the Home (20:15) - Ghosts and Your Attorney (26:24) - Learn More
We missed an episode! No, it doesn't happen often. But sometimes life kicks you in the sniffles. Here we are without an attorney and, as the old saying goes, "what's a podcast if we don't have an attorney?" I'm sure someone said that. In any case, thanks for being here and we'll see you next week!
How to Split a Toaster: A divorce podcast about saving your relationships
Moving Forward: Understanding Second Marriages and Divorce StigmaFamily law attorney Seth Nelson and Pete Wright welcome guest Kara Chrobak to explore the complexities of second marriages and divorce stigma. Chrobak, a Colorado-based family law attorney specializing in high-net-worth cases, brings valuable insights into how society's views on multiple marriages impact relationship decisions.The conversation examines why prenuptial agreements become increasingly important in subsequent marriages, particularly when children from previous relationships are involved. Seth explains how prenups can actually demonstrate commitment rather than distrust by allowing couples to thoughtfully plan their financial future.The hosts and Chrobak dive into estate planning considerations across multiple marriages, addressing how life insurance policies, beneficiary designations, and asset distribution become more complex with each relationship transition. They explore practical solutions like aliquot reductions in life insurance policies to balance obligations to current and former spouses.Key Insights:Prenuptial agreements can protect children from previous marriages while allowing couples to build shared assetsEstate planning requires careful coordination between divorce agreements and current relationship needsSetting healthy relationship boundaries should be celebrated rather than stigmatizedThe conversation reinforces that divorce—whether first, second, or subsequent—doesn't represent failure but rather demonstrates the courage to make healthy choices. Listeners gain practical insights into navigating complex legal and emotional terrain while maintaining focus on building positive future relationships.Links & NotesConnect with Kara on LinkedInSchedule a consult with SethGot a question you want to ask on the show? Click here! (00:00) - Welcome to How to Split a Toaster (00:26) - Second Marriages and Beyond (01:22) - The Stigma of Multiple Divorces (06:15) - Cultural Shift (08:54) - Navigating the Traditionalist Shame (12:11) - Learning from Celebrity Divorces (15:50) - Pre- and Post-Nups (25:30) - Keeping Things Updated (27:08) - Estate Management (28:57) - Aliquat Reductions (35:34) - Boundaries (37:43) - Finding Kara (38:28) - Wrap Up
There aren't many practitioners writing about today's topic. Unless, that is, you look up the collected works of Dr. Bill Dodson. Dr. Dodson is an award-winning board-certified psychiatrist and specialist in adult ADHD and his contributions to the study of Rejection Sensitive Dysphoria bring him to the show today. According to Dr. Dodson, nearly all those living with ADHD live with some level of rejection sensitivity, and thanks to the poor training on the ADHD connections to the condition, patients are going misdiagnosed and mistreated as a result.Today on the show, Dr. Dodson joins Nikki Kinzer and Pete Wright to discuss Rejection Sensitive Dysphoria and provide new language to frame a state those living with ADHD know all too well.About Dr. William DodsonDr. Bill Dodson is a award-winning board-certified psychiatrist and specialist in adult ADHD. While Dr. Dodson has been on the faculties of Georgetown University and the University of Colorado Health Sciences Center he is primarily a clinical practitioner who tries to combine evidence-based practice techniques with practice-based evidence. In addition to being named a Life Fellow of the American Psychiatric Association, and recipient of the national Maxwell J. Schleifer Award for Distinguished Service to Persons with Disabilities, Dr. Dodson is one of two experts from the US to the World Anti-Doping program for the development of guidelines for the use of ADHD stimulant medications in the world's athletes.Links & NotesDr. William Dodson at Additudemag.com (00:00) - Welcome to The ADHD Podcast (02:24) - Become a Member of The ADHD Community (04:28) - Introducing Dr. William Dodson (05:53) - What is Rejection Sensitive Dysphoria? (10:59) - Defining Characteristics of RSD? (13:37) - Mental health trends (17:23) - RSD and Imposter Syndrome (20:15) - RSD and Gender (25:45) - Treatment paths for RSD (34:14) - RSD and ADHD Coaching (43:44) - Finding Dr. Dodson ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★